Rotary fluid pressure engine and the like



1941- M. BVBOOTH 2,258,504

ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE AND THE LIKE V Fi led May 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

Oct. 7, 1941. oo- 2,258,504

ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE AND THE LIKE Filed May 2'7,-1938 5 Sheets-Shan Mm Mlvi "c Ber 1% Booth Oct. 1, 1941. 8. Boom 2,258,504

ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE AND THE LIKE Filed May 27; 1938 s SheatsPSheet s INVENTOP llgs lvine Be r'li am Boot/p t ArroRA/EY I Oct. 7, 1941. BOOTH I 2,258,504

ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.6. X V3 INVEIYZM Mivf/le B rlhm Booth Q; 2. Am

ATTDAM'EV M. B. BOOTH ROTARY FLUID PRESSURE'ENGINE AND THE LIKE Oct. 7, 1941.

Filed May 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 maev l/le Beg ar 80 Patented Oct. 7,1941

THE LIK Melville Bertram Booth, Allesley, Coventry, England, asslgnor to The Keelavite Company, Limited, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, a company of Great Britain Application May 27, 1938, Serial No. 210,503

In Great Britain June 4, 1937 13 Claims. (Cl. 103-125) blades extending across the blade chamber so as to make a sealing flt with the inner and outer circumferential walls of the blade chamber relatively to which the blades rotate about the axis of the blade chamber, a rotary abutment extending across the blade chamber between inlet and outlet ports and having a circumferential surface which is circular in cross-sections at right angles to its axis of rotation and makes a sealing fit at all times with abutment recesses of part-circular cross-section respectively in the inner and outer circumferential walls of the blade chamber, one or more blade-receiving recesses being provided in the periphery of the abutment, each of which during rotation of the abutment comes into position to receive a blade and permit it to pass the abutment as the blade during its rotation comes to the part of theblade chamber across which the abutment extends.

The object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine of the above kind, the capacity of which can be varied.

To this end in a rotary engine of the kind referred to according to the present invention, the end walls of the blade chamber are axially movable relatively to one another and the blades pass and are axially slidable through slots in one end wall of the bladechamber, which end wall partially or wholly the axial force exerted by fluid pressure in the blade chamber on the axially movable end wall. Preferably, in such an arrangement opposite end walls of the fluid pressure chamber are respectively rigid with the end walls of the blade chamber so that thefluid pressure in the fluid pressure chamber counterbalances partially or wholly the axial forces tending to separate the end walls of the blade chamberwithout theinterposition of thrust bearings.

In one arrangement according to the invention the abutment and the end wall which rotates with the blades are held from axial movement while the other end wall and the rotor are movable axially. In such an arrangement the end wall which rotates with the blades may be constituted by the end face of a cylindrical rotary member or flange having axial slots through which the blades pass and a chamber within it in which the rotor lies and in which this rotor can be moved axially to cause the desired axial movement of the blades through the slots in said flange. In this case the cylindrical rotarymember may be connected to a piston disposed in a cylinder rigid with the axially movable end wall, the chamber on one side of the piston communicating with the blade chamber so the case where the abutment is supported in bear ings in a part rigid with the outer circumferential wall of the blade chamber and the rotary cylindrical member may be mounted on a driving shaft so that rotation is imparted to the rotor from the shaft through this rotary cylindrical member.

In an alternative arrangement the end wall which is held from axial movement relatively to the blades isstationary and the abutment is supported in a part which is" movable axially with the abutment and the end wall which rotates with the blades relative to the rotor. Such an arrangement is particularly convenient when the abut- V ment is supported in bearings in a part constituting the inner circumferential wall ofthe bladechamber. The end wall through which the blades pass may then be constituted by the end face of a cylindrical member which lies round 5 one end portion of the part in which the abutvarious ways but two constructions according to the invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of one construction taken on the line I--l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of part of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 with the parts in the position they occupy when the capacity of the engine is reduced;

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 1 of an alternative construction according to the invention;

Figure '7 is a section on the line |-'I of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Hgure 6 with the parts in the position they occupy when the capacity of the engine is reduced.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the engine comprises a casing Q supporting bearings in which is a main shaft Q connected by gearing Q to a shaft Q. Mounted on the shaft Q is a disc-like part Q having an axially extending flange Q at the end of which is formed an internal flange Q The internal flange Q constitutes one end wall of an annular blade chamber 1i, and is provided with two slots as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 through which extend and can slide blades R formed on a rotor R which thus rotates with the member Q but can slide axially relatively thereto. The outer wall of the blade chamber is constituted by a part of the casing Q while its inner wall and its other end wall are constituted by a member S mounted to slide but not to rotate within the casing Q and carrying bearings which support the rotor R Formed or mounted on the shaft Q is a rotary abutment S which engages part-cylindrical abutment recesses R R respectively in the part ,of the casing Q constituting the outer wall of the annular blade chamber and in the part of the member S constituting the inner circumferential wall of the blade chamber as shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 5. Inlet and outlet ports T, T are formed in the casing so as to communicate with the annular blade chamber respectively on the two sides of the rotary abutment S The rotary abutment S is provided with two blade-receiving recesses S and the arrangement is such that the abutment extends across the blade chamber at all times and one or other of the blade-receiving recesses comes into position when required to permit each blade to pass the abutment. A continuation of the abutmentreceiving recess R in the member S extends to the left (in Fig. 1) of the blade chamber and a correspondingly formed part of a member Q constituting part of the casing extends into and makes a fluid-tight seal with this continuation.

The member S may on its low pressure side be formed with a cylinder S in which lies a, piston Q on an extension of the shaft Q the cylinder S communicating with the blade chamber so that the pressure therein counteracts partially or wholly the axial thrust on the flange Q constituting an end wall of the blade chamber and also similarly counteracts the axial thrust on the other end wall which is constituted by the member S without the interposition of thrust bearmgs.

Figure 1 shows the parts in the position of maximum capacity. When the capacity is to be reduced the member S and with it the member R carrying the blades are moved to the right. It will then be seen that the axial distance between the end wall of the blade chamber formed by the member S and the end wall formed by the flange Q is reduced, the effective length of the blades R being correspondingly reduced by withdrawal of these blades through the slots in the flange Q so that the axial length of the blade chamber and hence the capacity of the engine is reduced.

In order to prevent leakage occurring from the righthand end of the abutment recess R in the member S as each blade-receiving recess S passes over it when operating on reduced capacity, the flange Q -is formed on its interior on each side of each of the slots in the flange Q with walls Q which make a fluid-tight seal with the adjacent part of the circumference of the member S at such times as the abutment-receiving recess R is brought into communication with the inlet or outlet port by a blade-receiving recess S in the abutment.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 6 to 9, the engine is also of the variable capacity type and comprises a casting 'I supporting in bearings a main shaft U carrying a rotor U provided with projections IF which constitute blades lying within an annular blade chamber V the outer circumferential wall of which is formed by a part of the casing 'I while its inner circumferential wall is formed by a member W mounted to slide but not to rotate within the casing T Mounted on a shaft V within the casing is a disc V formed with a flange V at its circumference which is slotted at diametrically opposite points to permit the blade projections U, U to slide through it. The left-hand end face of the flange V constitutes the right-hand end wall of the annular blade chamber while the left-hand end wall of this blade chamber is constituted by a shoulder T on the casing.

The shaft V is supported in bearings in the member W and also in a bearing in the end of the shaft U and is adapted to slide axially with the member W relatively to the casing, the shaft U and the parts rigidly connected thereto being capable of rotation but not of axial movement in the casing.

Mounted in bearings in the member W and connected to the shaft V by gearing so as to rotate in the same direction as this shaft is a rotary abutment X having a single blade-receiving recess X therein, this abutment engaging at all times abutment recesses Y, Y respectively in the member W and in the casing and lying between inlet and outlet ports X X Formed in the casing T is a cylinder T in which lies a piston V mounted on the shaft V the cylinder T being connected to the working chamber so that the pressure in this cylinder by acting on the right hand face (Fig. 6) of the piston V counterbalances the pressure acting on the end wall of the blade chamber constituted by the member V In Figure 6 the parts are shown in the position of maximum capacity. When, however, it is desired to reduce the capacity of the engine, the shaft V and the member W are moved to the left so that the end wall of the blade chamber constituted by the member V approaches the end wall T so as to reduce the axial length and hence the capacity of the blade chamber. It will be understoodthat a part of the member 'W engages and moves to the left within an extension of the abutment-receiving recess Y so that the abutment is free to move to the left with the member W.

In order to prevent leakage through the part of the abutment recess Y vacated by the abutment when operating with reduced capacity, the parts of the casing adjacent to the edges of this recess are formed as shown at T in Figures '7 and 9 and it will be seen from Figure 9 that the seal between the inlet and outlet ports is thus maintained by the cooperation between the parts T the member V and the blades U in the part of the blade chamber vacated by the abutment.

,It is to be understood that the constructions diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings are given purely by way of example and that the form of the engine may vary within wide limits within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1. In a rotary engine comprising an annular blade chamber one end wall of which is slidable axially relatively to the other end wall, and one end wall of which is rotatable, a rotor carrying blades which extend through slots in said rotatable end wall soas to be slidable through such slots when relative axial movement between the end walls takes place, the blades making a sealing fit with the two end walls and with the inner vand outer circumferential walls of the blade chamber relatively to which circumferential walls the rotor andblades rotate about the axis of the blade chamber, inlet and outlet ports con ment comes into position to receive a blade and permit it to pass the abutment as the blade,

during its rotation with the rotor, comes to the a part of the blade chamber across which the abutment extends.

2. A rotary engine having features set forth in claim 1 and a piston and cylinder structure one element of which is rigid with the axiallymovable end wall while the other is rigid with the fixed end wall, the chamber enclosed by the piston and cylinder structure being subject to the pressure in the blade chamber so as to counterbalance at least partially the axial force exerted by the pressure within the blade chamber on the axially movable end wall.

3. A rotary engine comprising an annular blade chamber one end wall of which is axially movable and one end wall of which is rotatable relatively to the other end wall, a rotor arranged the combination of cumferential walls of the blade chamber, at least one rotary abutment arranged to rotate about an axis parallel to but displaced from that of the blade chamber and held from axial movement relatively to the end wall which rotates with the, blades but being axially movable relative to the other end wall, the abutment extending across the blade chamber between inlet and outlet ports and having a circumferential surface which is part-circular in cross-sections at right angles to its axis of rotation, abutment recesses of partclrcular cross-section respectively in the inner and outer circumferential walls of the blade chamber with which recess said abutment makes a-sealing fit at all times, and at least one bladereceiving recess in the abutment which, during rotation of the abutment, comes into position to receive a blade and permit it to pass the abutment as the blade, during its rotation with the rotor, comes to the part of the blade chamber across which the abutment extends.

4. A rotary engine comprising an annular blade chamber having'one rotatable and one non-rotatable end wall, one end wall being axially movable while the other is held from axial movement ,while both circumferential walls are held from rotation with one held from axial movement relatively to one end wall and the other held from axial movement relatively to the other end wall, a rotor arranged to rotate about the axis of the blade chamber and carrying blades which extend through slots in the rotatable end wall and are held from axial movement relatively to the non-rotatable end wall, the blades making a sealing fit with the end walls and the inner and outer circumferential walls of the blade chamber, at least one rotary abutment mounted in bearings in that circumferential wall which is held from axial movement relatively to the rotating end wall and so that the abutment is rotatable about an axis parallel to but displaced from that of the blade chamber, the abutment extending across the blade chamber between inlet and outlet ports and having a pircumferential surface which is part-circular in cross-sectioiri'satrlght anglesto its axis of tial walls of the blade chamber, and at least one blade-receiving recess in the abutment which, during rotation of the abutment, comes into position to receive a blade and permit it to pass the abutment'as the blade, during its rotation with the'rotor, comesto the part of the blade chamber across which the abutment extends.

5. A rotary engine comprising an annular blade chamber having a stationary outer circumferential wall and an inner circumferential wall which is rigid with one end wall and is held from rotation but is capable of sliding axially, the other to rotate about the axis of the blade chamber and carrying blades which extend through slots in and rotate with the rotatable end wall relativelyto the inner and outer circumferential end wall which is mounted to rotate about the axis of the blade chamber being held from axial movement, a rotor arranged to rotate about the axis of the blade chamber and carrying blades which extent through slots in the rotatable end wall and are axially movable with the non-rotatable end wall, the blades making a sealing fit with the two end walls and the circumferential walls of the blade chamber, at least one rotary abutment mounted in hearings in the outer circumferential wall of the blade chamber so as to be held from axial movement therein while rotating about an axis parallel to that of the blade chamber, the abutment extending across the blade chamber between inlet and outlet ports and having a circumferential surface which is part-circular in cross-sections at right angles to its axis of rotation and makes a sealing fit at all times with abutment recesses of part-circular crosssection respectively in the outer and inner circumferential walls of the blade chamber, and at least one blade-receiving recess in the abutment which, during rotation of the abutment, comes into position to receive a blade and per-- mit it to pass the abutment as the blade, during its rotation with the rotor, comes to the part of the blade chamber across which the abutment extends.

6. A rotary engine comprising an annular blade chamber the outer circumferential wall and one end wall of which are stationary while the inner circumferential wall while being held from rotation is axially movable relatively to the casing together with the other end wall which is rotatable about the axis of the blade chamber, a rotor arranged to rotate about the axis of the blade chamber and held from axial movement relatively to the stationary circumferential wall, blades carried by said rotor and extending through slots in the rotatable end wall, the blades making a sealing fit with the two end wallsv and the two circumferential walls of the blade chamber, at least one rotary abutment mounted in hearings in the inner circumferential wall of the blade chamber so as to be held from axial movement relatively thereto but to be rotatable about an axis parallel to but displaced from that of the blade chamber, the abutment extending across the blade chamber between inlet and outlet ports and having a circumferential surface which is part-circular in cross-sections at right angles to its axis of rotation and makes a sealing fit at all times with abutment recesses of part-circularcross-section respectively in the two circumferential walls of the blade chamber, and at least one blade-receiving recess in the abutment which, during rotation of the abutment, comes into position to receive a blade and permit it to pass the abutment as the blade, during its rotation with the rotor, comes to the part of the blade chamber' across which the abutment extends.

7 A'rotary engine comprising the combination of features set forth in claim 3 and a piston and cylinder structure one element of which is rigid with the axially movable end wall while the other is rigid with the other end wall, the chamber enclosed by the piston and cylinder structure being subject to the pressure in the blade chamber so as to counter-balance at least partially the axial force exerted by the pressure within the blade chamber on the axially movable wall.

8. A rotary engine comprising the combination of features set forth in claim and a piston and cylinder structure one element of which is rigid with the axially movable end wall While the other is rigid with the fixed end wall, the chamber enclosed by the piston and cylinder structure being subject to the pressure in the blade chamber so force exerted by the pressure within the blade chamber on the axially movable end wall.

9. A rotary engine comprising the combination of features set forth in claim 6 and a piston and cylinder structure one element of which is rigid with the axially movable end wall while the other is rigid with the stationary end wall, the chamber enclosed by the piston and cylinder structure being subject to the pressure in the blade chamber so as to counter-balance at least partially the axial force exerted by the pressure within the blade chamber on the axially'movable end wall.

10. A rotary engine including the combination of features set forth in claim 5 wherein the rotatable end wall is constituted by the end face of a cylindrical rotary member having the axial slots through which the blades pass and a chamber within it in which the rotor lies and can slide axially to cause the desired axial movement of the blades through the slots.

11. A rotary engine including the combination of features set forth in claim 5 in which the rotary end wall is constituted by the end face of a cylindrical rotary member having the axial slots through which the blades pass and a chamber within it in which the rotor carrying the blades lies and can be moved axially to cause the desired axial movement of the blades, and a driving shaft is connected to the cylindrical rotary member from which rotation is imparted to the rotor by reason of the interconnection of the blades and slots.

12. A rotary engine including the combination of features set forth in claim 6 in which the rotating end wall of the blade chamber is constituted by the end face of a hollow cylindrical member carried on one end thereof by a disclike member while the rotor is constituted by a second disc-like member from which the blades extend through axial slots in the said cylindrical member.

13. A rotary engine comprising an annular blade chamber one end wall and one circumferential wall of which are axially movable relatively to the other end wall and the other circumferential wall, the outer and inner walls being held from rotation relatively to one another, a rotor arranged to rotate about the axis of the blade chamber with one end wall relatively to both circumferential walls and carrying blades which extend throughislots in the rotating end wallfthe blades being capable of sliding through such slots and making a sealing fit at all times with the two end walls and with the inner and outer circumferential walls, ,at least one rotary abutment arranged to rotate about an axis parallel to but displaced from that of the blade chamber and extending across the blade chamber b'etween inlet and outlet ports and having a circumferential surface which is part-circular in cross-sections at right angles to its axis of rotation and makes a sealingfit at all times with abutment recesses of part-circular cross-section respectively in the circumferential walls of the blade chamber, and at leastone blade-receiving recess in the abutment which during rotation of the abutment comes into position to receive a blade and permit it to pass the abutment as the blade during its rotation with the rotor comes to the part of the blade chamber across which the as to counter-balance at least partially the axial 7o abutment extends- MELVILLE BERTRAM BOOTH. 

